There are all kinds of titles for someone that "works" with young people in the local church. You have the Youth Worker, then a Youth Leader, Youth Director, and Youth Pastor. Now we also have Student Worker, Student Leader, Student Director and Student Pastor.
But the bottom line for all of these titles is that whoever the person is and whatever the position is they need to first be a Youth Minister! What is a Youth Minister (YM)? How do you know if you really are a YM? What should you do to become a YM?
A YM is someone that puts God first in their lives. Not only are they concerned about God's anointing on their area ministry so they spend time in prayer but they also follow their Pastor and buy into his vision for the church. You may ask "How do we do that? Somewhere or at sometime you felt the call of God on your life to help young people and to make a difference in their life. You wanted to teach and train young people to be used of God and to be effective for the kingdom sake. Hence you started Youth Choir to give aspiring musicians and singers opportunity and experience (sing in community events , July 4Th, and Christmas etc..). Youth Outreach was started to give aspiring ministers and service leaders opportunity and experience (in nursing homes or shelters etc..). Spend "down time" with your youth such as fishing, slumber party as well as prayer meetings and directed prayer meetings and even a prayer journey to their school or what they would call their "battle ground". As a YM it is imperative that you stay plugged into that original calling and resulting burden for the young people. Way too many times we as YM get involved with helping young people and we get caught up in the fun things parties, trips, titles, accolades etc... . In the process we forget that we are supposed to be training youth for ministry and leadership in the kingdom. We become "us" minded (what is in it for me? What kind of recognition will "I" receive?) instead of kingdom minded.
If you really are a YM then you are plugged into the young people that God has given you. Meaning that you know about their goals, struggles and triumphs. If they miss church on Sunday night then you know by Monday night why they missed service. You don't mind praying for them and with them at the altar. In fact you spend a lot of time praying with them and encouraging them to press on and not to be satisfied with the mediocre "christian" lifestyle. Because you are training them not only to become an over comer but you are also training them to be a leader that others can look up to and ultimately to be used of God in some area of ministry in His kingdom. So you push them to get involved with and to take the lead in:
- worship - not be a spectator in service, be the first on their feet and in the aisle
- pray- not only for themselves but for others at home and in the altar at church
- to help in areas of church work- set up for special services, yard work, clean-up etc..
- to get involved in visitation- not only new visitors but the shut-in as well
- you teach them about their attitudes and obedience towards and Pastor, parents and leadership.
The list goes on, but you have to teach the youth to get involved in all areas to prepare for whatever area of ministry that God will eventually place on their life. There needs to be a balance of training in many areas. As you "work" with the youth through prayer, one-on-one time, class/service time you gain their respect. Then when God speaks to you regarding a problem in their life you can be comfortable in facing them with what you feel and they will be truthful and respect you more for telling them the truth and standing your ground on what the church believes and the Bible teaches. In order for you to teach them you have to lead them so they can follow your example. Unfortunately this is where the breakdown is occurring. We get caught up in our own little world and we get distracted from our original calling.
To start on the path to be a "Youth Minister" you need to involve yourself in all areas of church work. I preached a message to the students at Kent Christian College one titled" Take the Initiative to be Available and be Diligent about it!" Work your schedule and show up at the church eager to work on whatever needs to be done that day. Be at church for prayer meetings. Be at church early for prayer so you can begin to feel the load of the service and help Pastor and the leadership to carry the load for lost souls. Take a lead in worship by coming to church for church not to see or to be seen. Come dressed to be on the platform as if you might get called on to do something. I remember praying when I was just a young teenager like I was leading prayer for the sick at church. When I finally was called on to do it I was not so nervous because I had already prayed that way so many times. O, I was nervous nervous being up front believe me, but my years of being involved with Bible Quizzing helped in that area. Get involved in Bible Quizzing it will help you to learn the Bible plus give you excellent training in several other areas as well. Spend time in personal prayer and travail for lost souls and the youth that are in your church. Also spend time visiting the youth visitors to your church. Start teaching them Youth Bible Studies. Become an active soul winner and see what God doors God will open for you! After you have applied yourself to these area for a couple of years take at least one "Youth On Missions Trip". If you have applied yourself to outreach, Bible study (Bible Quizzing, and teaching) as well as Youth Choir then you will be more effective on the missions trip. The trip will also have more affect on you for God to use you mightily in His kingdom.
I have seen youth just floundering during their formative years, praying at the altar even travailing with no support from their leaders over them. I have heard of them going to people and getting advice from people that was way off track simply because their leaders were too busy for them or did not spend personal time with them. I have received calls from Pastors, parents, and fellow youth workers across our fellowship wanting to resolve this problem. I don't have all the answers but I am speaking from personal experience.
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